Nursing unit



April 1949- w. G. CANHAM ET AL 2,467,463

NURSING UNIT Filed Dec. '7, 1945 FIG. 5.

INVIQNTORSI WALTER G. CANHAM, ALVIN H. os'rnm m LEON BORSTEIN,

ATTORNEY 5.

Patented Apr. 19, 1949 NURSING UNIT Walter G. Canham, St. Albans, and Alvin H. Ostrin and Leon Borstein, Charleston, W. Va.;

said Canham assignor Borstein to said Ostrin and said Application December 7, 1945, Serial No. 633,488

3 Claims. (Cl. 215-11) This invention relates to a babys nursing devices, and more particularly to a combination nursing unit and tumbler.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved babys nursing unit of simple construction which is provided with automatic pressure equalizing means for providing a sub stantial continuous flow of fluid to the infant while nursing and wherein the infant may be fed with its head in a comfortable position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved nursing unit for an infant wherein the infant may obtain fluid from the unit without sucking in colic-producing air, and wherein protective means is provided for keeping the nipple portion of the unit sterile when the unit is not in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a nursing unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a gasket member employed with the nursing unit of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a sealing disc adapted to be employed with the nursing unit of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the sealing disc of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail cross-sectional view of the neck portion of the nursing unit of Figure 1 shown in inverted nursing position.

Referring to the drawings, l l designates a container for babys milk or other fluid, said container being preferably molded of transparent heat-resistant plastic material.

Container H is formed with a plurality of integral strengthening ribs l2 and with a series of integrally molded graduation ribs l3 appropriately marked in terms of fluid volumetric units.

The upper portion of container H is formed with threads [4 and an abutment rib l5 for the reception of a sealing closure l6, preferably of molded transparent plastic, which is also adapted to be employed as a tumbler.

The top end of container H is formed with a reduced neck portion I! provided with threads l8 upon which is adapted to be threadedly engaged a nipple adapter member 19, preferably of molded plastic, which is formed with an outlet passage 20 inclined at about 45 to the axis of the container. The top end of adapter member 19 is formed to receive a conventional nipple 2|.

Positioned between adapter member I9 and the rim of the container is a resilient gasket member 22 of rubber or the like, which is formed with an opening 23 adapted to register with passage 20.

Adapter member I9 is formed with a restricted orifice 25 normally sealed by gasket 22, but which is adapted to be opened to the atmosphere when the pressure inside of the container drops below atmospheric pressure, to thereby admit air to equalize the pressure within the container with respect to atmospheric pressure. Gasket 22 is sufficiently flexible to bend slightly inward, as shown in Figure 5, to permit the entry of the required amount of air when the pressure inside the container is reduced by the withdrawal of fluid by the infant. Gasket 22 thus functions as a pressure-responsive check valve.

When the unit is not in use, passage 20 may be sealed off by a rigid disc member 21 positioned between adapter member I9 and gasket 22. Disc member 21 is formed with lug elements 28 on each face thereof, the lower lugs element being adapted to be received in opening 23 of the gasket member.

The inclined relation of passage 29 of adapter l9 to the axis of the container makes it possible to feed the infant in many different positions comfortably. When the baby is in a reclining position the nipple can be turned downwardly and the container supported on the babys chest. The baby can then drink the fluid without bending the nipple, thus insuring an uninterrupted flow of fluid. The angle top makes it easy to handle the container regardless of which way the baby turns.

Tumbler I 6 may be used to hold baby food to be given along with the milk or other fluid in the container.

While a specific embodiment of a baby nursing unit has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modiflcations within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A baby nursing unit comprising a container having a threaded rim, an adapted member threadedly secured to the rim of the container and formed to receive a nipple, said adapter member having its outer end inclined with respect to the axis of the container and having its inner end aligned with said axis, an opening formed in said adapter member laterally spaced from the rim of the container, and a resilient gasket interposed between said adapter member and the rim of the container and normally covering said opening, said gasket having a central opening registering with the inner end of the adapter member and being adapted to be bent inwardly at times by air pressure to uncover the adapter member opening.

2. A baby nursing unit comprising a container 3 having a rim, an adapter member secured to the rim of the container and formed to receive a nipple, said adapter member having a portion inclined with respect to the axis of the container,

and valve means for admitting air to the container responsive to the decrease of pressure within the container to below atmospheric, said valve means comprising an opening formed in said adapter member inwardlyspaced from the rim of the container and an annular resilient gasket interposed between said adapter member and the rim of the container and normally covering said opening.

3. A baby nursing unit comprising a container having a rim, an adapter member secured to the rim of the container and formed to receive a nipple, said adapter member having a portion inclined with respect to the axis of the container, a resilient gasket interposed between said adapter member and the rim of the container, said gasket 20 having a central opening registering with the inner end of the adapter, and a sealing member interposed between said adapter member and said gasket, said sealing member being provided with a lug element projecting from a face thereof, the lug element being positioned within said opening.

WALTER G. CANHAM. ALVIN H. OS'I'RIN. LEON BORSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name" Date 1,623,544 Kushner Apr. 5, 1927 2,330,019 Vaughn et a1 Sept. 21, 1943 2,372,281 Jordan Mar. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 152,594 Great Britain June 2, 1920 249,200 Germany Aug. 25, 1911 

